Leadership Report

A Fantastic Start to the Year

Our first full week of learning is complete, and it truly feels like everything is back in place. It has been wonderful walking through classrooms and seeing students settling into their new classes, building relationships with their teachers, and forming new friendships. A big welcome to our new staff, who already feel like part of the Newlands family, and an even bigger thank you to our experienced team for the generous support they have provided. The avalanche of Newlands events has not quite begun yet, but we can definitely feel the momentum building.

Meet the Teacher Sessions

Following parent feedback last year, we launched the year with Meet the Teacher sessions. After speaking with both families and staff, it is clear this was a highly valued initiative that we plan to continue in the years ahead. It has been fantastic to hear parents share insights about their children, helping teachers build strong relationships and set the foundation for a successful year at Newlands.

End of Day Pick-Up for Grades 1/2 and 3/4

A quick reminder that students in Grades 1/2 and 3/4 who finish the day with Specialist classes will be dismissed from the quadrangle. Parents are asked to meet their children there. Students cannot be collected from classrooms, the gym, the Art room or in transit to the quadrangle. Students meeting siblings in other areas will be dismissed from the quadrangle. If you require further clarification, please contact the office.

Icy Pole Fridays

You may have noticed the success of Icy Pole Fridays today either from the sticky evidence on your child’s face or the smiles they brought home! It has been fantastic to see students enjoying this fun community initiative led by the Bilingual School Leaders.

Bilingual School Leaders

Our Bilingual School Leaders have already made a strong impact across the school, and we extend a huge congratulations to them, as well as to all of our 2026 School Leaders. Every Grade 6 student is a leader, whether they wear a badge or not, and we look forward to working alongside them to make 2026 a successful and memorable year.

Practising Spanish with Our Community

Our students have been out the front each morning encouraging parents to practise their Spanish. Please join in the fun! they are there to support you, and the phrase sheet below is designed to help. Remember, this initiative is especially for parents, and it’s a great way to model learning and celebrate our bilingual community.

What’s Been Happening in the Classrooms

Foundation

The students in FA proudly showed me how they isolate the first sounds in words. They were learning the ‘s’ sound and did an impressive job blending and segmenting sounds. Miles confidently shared his Saber Tooth Tiger, and other students contributed:

Luca – A Squishmallow
Ethan – A snake
Wilke – Soccer ball
Clementine – Sausage Dog
Sienna – Sienna
Sunny – A sloth

Grade 1/2

I interrupted 1/2A just as they were about to begin their exciting irst Facts on Fuego task to ask: Why is 1/2A the best class in the school? Here were their responses:

Eva – Because A stands for AWESOME
Misha – We get three teachers: Simon, Christine & Sonya
Jude – Because we do more work than all the other classes
Luna – We listen the most
Angus – Some people are as cool as Luke (I agree)
Leila – We always do fun activities
Audrey – Because we are the cool kids

Grade 3/4

I joined 3/4C during their Philosophy session, where students debated questions such as “Do slugs deserve to eat?” and “Are books better than movies?” It was fantastic to see such high engagement and thoughtful reasoning in Nerida’s first lessons. When asked “Should kids keep pets?”, students shared:

Angie – It’s not okay; imagine being put in a bag—you wouldn’t like it
Leroy – If you don’t know how to care for a fish, it could die
Maher – It’s okay because you learn how fish move
Harry – It’s okay if you look after them well—you could even farm them

Grade 5/6

Last year, the Grade 5s launched both a written and verbal petition demanding that Jose teach in 5/6. Unable to argue with their reasoning, I even called Jose on his honeymoon to share the news! Moving from Foundation to Grade 5/6 is a big leap, but Jose has taken it in his stride. When asked what the best thing about 5/6 is, students said:

Xavier – Being seniors gives me more responsibility
Florence – Seeing Preps look at how big we are
Ines – Having a quiet 5/6 space at aftercare
Ariana – Being the biggest and having buddies
Billy – Jose—he’s the most fun and best teacher
Lia – Being a school leader and having a voice
Eloise – More independence and trust
Derya – The Preps look up to you
Hazel – Interschool Sports

2027 Foundation Students

We are already receiving many enquiries about school tours for 2027 Foundation enrolments. Tours will begin in Term 2, and bookings can be made via: https://www.trybooking.com/DJKLP Current families with a child starting next year are encouraged to submit an enrolment form to the office.

Have a wonderful weekend.

We look forward to seeing everyone next week!

Luke